This ey like all of the neighbouring order of Matvacez, 
is emollient and mucilaginous in all its parts. The leaves 
dried and reduced to powder constitute lalo, a favourite 
artiele with the natives, and which they mix daily with 
their food, for the purpose of diminishing the excessive 
perspiration to which: they are subject in those: climates, 
and even the Europeans: find it serviceable in cases of 
diarrhea, fevers, and-other maladies. 
The fruit is, perhaps, the most useful part of the tree. 
Its pulp is lightly -acid and agreeable, and frequently 
eaten ; while the juice is expressed from it, mixed with 
‘sugar, and constitutes a drink which is valued as a specific 
in putrid and: pestilential fevers. Owing to these circum- 
stances, the fruit forms an article of commerce*. The 
Mandingos convey it to the eastern and more southern 
districts of Africa; and through the medium of the Arabs, 
it reaches Morocco and even Egypt. If the fruit be de- 
cayed or injured, it is burned: the leys are boiled with 
rancid oil of palm, and the negroes use it instead of soap. 
The flowers are large and handsome, and on their first 
expansion, as given at t. 2791, have a very different appear- 
ance to what they put on in a more advanced stage, as seen 
at t. 2792. There is a solitary tree planted in the island of 
St. Vincent, from which Mr. Guirpine gathered the flowers 
and fruit he has so obligingly sent to me, and which are 
ea oer abundantly, though the plant has not attained a 
eight of more than thirty feet. These flowers and fruit, 
Mr. Guiipine observes, are both pendent: => 
—=— 
* In Bowpicn’s account of Banjole, it is mentioned that this fruit possesses 
an agreeably acid flavour, and, being very abundant, it forms a principal article 
of food among the natives, who season many of their dishes with it, especially 
a kind of gruel made of corn, and called Rody. Mr. Bownicu further ob- 
Tas. 2791. Fig. 1 Flower and Leaf. 2. Calyx and Pistil. 3. Capsule. 
4. Section of ditto. 5. Seed. 6. Embryo.—Natural size. 
Tan. 2792. Fig. 1. Flower, drawn from a more advanced specimen. 2. 
Portion of the Tube of the Stamens. 3. Stamen. 4, Section of the pedun- 
ele.—Natural size, a 
